The group all got back to their suite at the Weyr-Moraine and met in the living room. They discussed what they found out, which wasn't much. Linda said,

"I got invited to a Syndicate party tomorrow night." Connor stood up and said,

"You are not going!" His voice showed he was adamant about it. Pogo said,

"I think you are right." Connor cut of the second part of Pogo's statement.

"See! Pogo agrees you should not go." Pogo looked at Connor and said,

"If you will let me finish. What I was going to say is I think you are right. She should not go on her own. I think I should go with her. I might be able to find out where their lab is located."

"No. It is too dangerous," said Connor. But they could all see he was bowing to the logic of what was being said. He finally bowed his head and said,

"All right. But how are we going to communicate?"

Yalp got up and stood where all could see him.

"I have been giving that some thought. I have come up with something that is pure genius. We can tap into their security system."

They all looked at him as if he were mad. Then a group smile started as the idea sunk in deeper. The meeting broke up at that point, since they all had a lot to think about. Everyone went to bed except Connor. He sat in the lounge deep in thought. This is not good. She thinks she can handle these people. How can I get it through her head that they are dangerous? He was so deep in thought he did not notice someone behind him until a hand landed on his shoulder. He looked up into Linda's eyes and saw the caring and determination there. He said,

"I know you are going to go, but I wish I could impress upon you how dangerous these people are." A smile crossed over her lips and she replied,

"I know what they are like and I will be careful. I think maybe you should be careful too. After all I was on my honeymoon when all of this started." She then turned and walked back to her room. Connor slept on the couch that night.

The next night Linda and Pogo went to the Silver Comet. Going right to the elevator they showed the card to one of the men standing there. He stepped aside and they entered the elevator. It took only a second and the door opened onto a grand ballroom. The music was modern with heavy base that pounded into the elevator.

Pogo said,

"I dislike this kind of music. I hope it ends soon," and as soon as they walked out of the elevator the song ended and a lovely ballad followed it. Pogo smiled and they started to stroll around the room.

It did not take long for Linda to find Reco. He was in the middle of a group of men and from the looks on their faces, they were obviously talking business. Pogo moved off and Linda gave Reco a wave and a little smile. Reco finished what he was saying and excused himself from the group. Walking directly to Linda he said,

"I am so glad you could make it. Did your old friend leave today?"

"No. He stayed over, but did not come with me."

Reco smiled and took Linda by the arm, leading her towards the bar. Once there he asked,

"What would you like to drink?"

Linda looked at the fully stocked bar and replied,

"I will have a beer." He got them two beers and said,

"Do you play other games?"

Linda blushed and said,

"What do you mean?"

Smiling at her embarrassment Reco quickly said,

"How about billiards?"

She laughed and replied,

"That depends. Can your male ego afford to lose?"

"Oh, I see. A challenge." He then lead her off to a door and through it into a pool hall. Linda was amazed. There must have been ten tables as well as another bar. They made their way to a table and Linda said,

"How about eight ball. To make it interesting, how about follow the last?" Reco smiled and racked the balls. He said,

"Since you are my guest, I will give you the honour of breaking." Linda was a full figured girl and in the tight formal dress she left nothing to the imagination. But when she bent over to shoot, every male eye and even a few female ones were focused on her. She broke and followed up with five other balls. Reco said,

"You were not kidding. I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew." She smiled a reply and the game continued, as did numerous games after that.

Pogo kept an eye on her and could see she was doing just fine. He wandered around picking up on surface thoughts of people around him. He had been at this for about an hour when he came across some interesting thoughts. He narrowed it down to a young male Mechalus. His thoughts were mostly of an alien computer and it's tremendous potential if he could only figure it out. Pogo also sensed fear in the young male. Not of the computer, but of the people he was with. At that moment the young male is interrupted from his day dreaming and his thoughts go back to the conversation. But the fear is still there. Pogo moved on, so as not to create suspicion. Wandering around some more he picked up on numerous illegal activities and power plays. He had been at it for two hours before going back to see how Linda was doing.

He arrived just in time to see they were putting their cues away. He watched from a discreet distance. Reco lead Linda to another door and they were out of his sight. Pogo moved to the bar where he was closer to the door. He pushed his mind out to touch hers and make sure she was alright, but when he found it he found nothing but fear. He quickly made his way to the door and walked in. Pogo could see that Reco had Linda on a small couch and was on top of her. He quickly rose to see who had entered the room. Looking at Pogo he said,

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" At this point Pogo reached out with his mind and put a thought into Reco's mind. The thought was that Reco was done with Linda and has summoned Pogo to take her home. Pogo said,

"You requested me to take the girl home."

Reco looked at Linda and then back to Pogo.

"Yes, of course. Well, get on with it. Don't just stand there like a lump!"

Pogo walked to Linda and helped her up, all the while looking around the room. He saw a map of Penates on the wall behind the desk and tried to memorize as much as possible before leading her out of there.

Out of the room, they left the Silver Comet as quickly as possible without looking conspicuous. Outside Linda looked at him and said,

"Thank you," and kissed him on the cheek.
 

"Just don't tell my wife about the kiss and we will call it even," he replied.